New Acura MDX revealed

The all-new 2021 Acura MDX – better known in Australia as the Honda MDX – has broken cover in the US overnight, with the fourth-generation model described as the flagship SUV’s “most radical design transformation yet”.

Built on a new platform and brimming with high-tech features, the new Acura MDX is also heralded as the most premium, performance-focused and technologically sophisticated SUV from Honda’s 35-year-old prestige brand.

As far as Australia is concerned, right-hand drive production is not anticipated at this stage, meaning there will not be a return of the Honda MDX to showrooms any time soon despite the SUV market booming here and strong sales prospects for the new model.

The same can be said for the latest Honda Ridgeline pick-up truck, which we’ll likely never see in Australia through official factory distribution channels.

So as big, built-for-America SUVs continue to do well in Australia – the Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-9 and Nissan Pathfinder, for example – the new Honda MDX looks like another missed opportunity.

The bolder exterior design is built around slightly bigger dimensions, a longer wheelbase and a wider stance that Honda says provides visual cues of the improved dynamic performance of the MDX, which in turn stems from the new body and chassis architecture.

There’s an all-new front double-wishbone suspension (switching from MacPherson struts) and a revised multilink arrangement at the rear, plus a new variable-ratio electric power steering system.

We’re not sure about the claim of “driving dynamics of a sport sedan”, but engineering focus points in areas such as ride, handling, braking and refinement clearly bode well for the large three-row wagon.

Power comes from an upgraded 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine (216kW/362Nm) mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission and, where specified, a fourth-generation Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system.

The overhaul of the Acura MDX’s now-roomier interior is a major drawcard, with standard tech features including a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument display, 12.3-inch centre dash display with touchpad interface, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Qi-compatible wireless charging and USB-C ports. A head-up display is available as an option.

All-new front sports seats are provided, while the three-position second row has a flexible centre seat that can fold down to provide a wide centre armrest and console or be removed altogether.

New driver assist safety systems under the AcuraWatch banner extend to traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection and a driver attention monitor, while road departure mitigation has been updated.

Adaptive cruise control with ‘low-speed follow’ is also on board, along with a next-generation three-chamber front passenger airbag, as seen on the just-launched 2021 Acura TLX – a would-be reborn Honda Accord Euro that we won’t see in Australia either.